But Ranieri said: “It is a such a strange Premier League. We are at the top - yes we are doing well - but also because the other big teams have not gelled and they have pushed their managers out.

“None of us will have another chance like this. Never again. This is the year to win the Premier League.

“Next season, us at Leicester will be between tenth and sixth place, if all goes well. Because Liverpool, Chelsea, United will all be ahead of us.

"Therefore this is the year where we enter the pitch determined in every match and we give everything. And the boys really, really want to win this.”

Leaders: Leicester outplayed Manchester City in a 3-1 win at the Etihad last weekend (Image: Getty)

Ranieri added: “Where do all our wins come from? This is a team that stayed up in the last few games of last season, with a different system of play and by giving everything.

"I realised something had to change, but gradually. I said to my players that I wanted to always see them as ‘desperate’, like they were at the end of last season. And slowly but surely they’ve gained more confidence.

“We’re doing well because the other teams aren’t gelling. I told my players: ‘It’s this year or never’.

“The guys really want to win. Vardy scored goals in the lower divisions. Four years ago Leicester bought him for £1m and it seemed like madness. This year I’ve left him with the freedom to explode.”

He also revealed the unique bond that is driving the team towards their impossible dream.

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Ranieri said: “In England the football is always of a high intensity and wipes people out. They have more need to recover.

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"We play Saturday, then Sunday is a day off for everyone. On Monday we resume with light training, the way they do in Italy. Tuesday is hard training. Wednesday, absolute rest. On Thursday, another hard session. Friday, preparation for the match, Saturday, another game.

“I make sure the players have at least two days off from football each week. This is the pact I made the first day with the players: ‘I trust you. I’ll explain some football ideas to you every now and then, as long as you give me everything’.”

“In England, they are aware they’re young, healthy and are in a great job. It would be stupid to waste all that. When they train, they always put in the same effort as a match. I never once had to tell someone off for being lazy.”

Asked if Leicester can now go on to win the title, Ranieri stuck to his script and avoided directly answering the question.

“I don’t know, but it’s fantastic that we earned the question. When I arrived the president asked me for 24 points by Christmas.

"We got 37 or 39, I can’t even remember how many. And we are still up there now.

"In an era when money counts for everything, I think we give hope to everybody.”